Answered by Ustadh Nail Kadi
Question:
What is the punishment of wearing immodest clothing on the Day of Judgement? What affects the severity of the punishment?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
I pray you are well.
As a starting point, we strive to cover what is legally required at all times. Then one thinks about the specific kind of situation in which more precautions would be necessary. This could be due to the specific people one is interacting with or the cultural standard of decency.
To review the legal obligations as well as the moral considerations of clothing, consult the following articles:
The Proprieties of Clothing and Dress
To cover one’s nakedness/nudity (‘awra) in front of strangers of the opposite sex is obligatory. This is defined by our Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) as being from navel to knee for men; and everything except the face, hands, and feet for women. To leave these areas uncovered knowingly would be sinful.
Asma (may Allah be pleased with her), daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), entered upon the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and give him peace) wearing a thin dress. The Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and give him peace) turned his attention from her. He said: “O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of the body except this and this, and he pointed to his face and hands” (Abu Dawud).
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا – «أَنَّ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا – دَخَلَتْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – وَعَلَيْهَا ثِيَابٌ رِقَاقٌ، فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا، وَقَالَ: ” يَا أَسْمَاءُ! إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْمَحِيضَ لَنْ يَصْلُحَ أَنْ يُرَى مِنْهَا إِلَّا هَذَا وَهَذَا، وَأَشَارَ إِلَى وَجْهِهِ وَكَفَّيْهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ.
As a reminder to the greater aims of clothing oneself, reflect on the following hadith:
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) advised his companions, “Set your saddles in order, and elevate your attire so that you may stand out amongst people. For Allah does not like obscenity and indecency” (Abu Dawud).
فأصلحوا رحالكم، وأصلحوا لباسكم حتى تكونوا كأنكم شامة في الناس، فإن الله لا يحب الفحش ولا التفحش (رواه أبو داود)
We should see what we wear as not just a means of avoiding punishment but as a means of earning reward and promoting decency and beauty.
And Allah knows best
[Ustadh] Nail Kadi